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Thousands Take to Streets against TMC Govt

THOUSANDS of people hit the streets across West Bengal on January 28 and staged demonstrations in district administrative headquarters over various issues, including the attack on democratic forces, on the call the Left Front. Demonstrations were held in 19 districts of the state on that day. Malda district organised this program a day before on January 27.

The gatherings in all the districts were huge. After public meetings, memorandums were handed over by delegations. The demands were prioritised on the basis of the prevailing situation in different districts but above all the demand for safeguarding of democratic rights was everywhere. The aggressive gatherings made it clear that people will not tolerate suffocating atmosphere in Bengal where TMC along with police will unleash attack on any protest against misdeeds of the ruling party.

CPI(M) West Bengal State Secretary and Polit Bureau member Surjya Kanta Mishra took part in demonstrations in district headquarters of South 24-Paraganas and Kolkata. He unequivocally said the TMC government has to be thrown away for resurrection of democracy in Bengal. He said that only the Left forces can ensure security to the people. But, he added, saving Bengal is not a battle only for the Leftists. Rather a united sphere of struggle has to be created so that we can rebuild Bengal. Left Front Chairman and Polit Bureau member Biman Basu, addressing the demonstrators in Kolkata, said the attack on democratic rights in the state has gone to such an extent that it has no comparison other than the Emergency period. Basu also demanded that money be returned to the chit fund sufferers in the context of unprecedented chit fund scam in Bengal under TMC patronage.

In North 24-Parganas, huge rallies were conducted before the submission of deputation to the district magistrate. Demonstrations across the state witnessed gathering of brave people in large numbers. The city of Bardhaman turned red as nearly seventy thousand people coming from across the district assembled with their demand of resurrection of democracy and fair election. The rally also demanded attention to the agrarian crisis which the state is facing due to the policy of the present state government. Howrah district also organised a huge rally. The rallies of South Bengal unequivocally demanded steps for industrialisation so that the youth of the state can get jobs. In Bankura, a huge rally took place in Tamalibandh Maidan. A mammoth rally was held in West Medinipur district too.

Huge rallies were also held across North Bengal. In Siliguri, a huge rally was held. It was addressed by Siliguri Mayor and District Left Front Convener Ashok Bhattacharya. In North Dinajpur, the rally demanded enquiry of irregularities of TMC-run Panchayat Zilla Parishad. Brave rallies took place in Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar. City of Cooch Behar also witnessed a vibrant rally of red flags. The gatherings of North Bengal unequivocally demanded action for the tea garden workers. The brave rallies and meetings from all the districts of Bengal voiced for their the major demands as end of anarchy in the state and to start the 100 days’ work programme and ensuring the social security benefits started by the erstwhile Left Front government and subsequently stopped in the present TMC regime.